oleophilic

Thân thiện

The scientist places an oleophilic sponge into a pan of oil and water.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a strong affinity for oils rather than water: Describes a substance or material that is easily wetted by, attracts, or absorbs oils and other non-polar liquids, while typically repelling water.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The oleophilic sponge quickly absorbed the cooking oil spill.
  • Oleophilic materials are used in filters to separate oil from water.
  • This fabric's oleophilic nature makes it unsuitable for raincoats.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Technical Context: The term is often used in chemistry, environmental science, and materials engineering to describe the preferential interaction with oils.
  • The researchers developed an oleophilic membrane for more efficient oil-water separation.

Variants and Related Words

• Oleophobic (adj): Having a strong aversion to oils; repelling oils.
  • An oleophobic coating on a smartphone screen helps prevent fingerprint smudges.

Synonyms

• Lipophilic: Having an affinity for fats and oils (often used in biochemical contexts).
• Hydrophobic: Repelling water (a common, correlated property of oleophilic materials).

Notes on Meaning

• The "affinity" described is a physical-chemical property, not a conscious preference. It is the opposite of oleophobic.
• While oleophilic substances attract oils, they are often simultaneously hydrophobic (water-repelling), as the two properties are frequently linked.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having a strong affinity for oils rather than water